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Xander Bogaerts hit in the head with Felix Hernandez pitch, evaluated for concussion

Xander Bogaerts

Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts lies on the ground after being hit in the head by a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Boston, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014. Betts remained in the game. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
(Michael Dwyer)

In his first at-bat in the second inning, Bogaerts demolished an 0-2 pitch from Seattle ace Felix Hernandez high over the Monster seats in left. The ball appeared to be just inside the pole, but was ruled foul.

The Red Sox challenged, but the call was upheld.

Three innings later, in his next at-bat, Bogaerts took an 89 mph changeup from Hernandez off the left ear flap of his helmet. He went down on one knee, rubbing the side of his face as manager John Farrell and the team's training staff ran out for the second time that inning.

Bogaerts remained in the game and played the top half of the sixth, but not easily.

"Once I got on defense I was happy I got no ground balls because I kind of lost my focus a bit," Bogaerts said. "I was looking at Pedey a lot and he was asking if I was OK. I knew I didn’t feel 100 percent out there."

Bogaerts remained in the game until the bottom of the sixth after Yoenis Cespedes hit his three-run home run. He was lifted for pinch-hitter Brock Holt when Hernandez was taken out of the game.

"Xander in the top of the following inning, started to not be able to hold his focus or concentration as much towards the end of that (sixth) inning and got him out of the game at that time," said Farrell.

The Red Sox announced later in the game that Bogaerts had been removed to evaluate for a concussion.

Given the awareness of concussions and that the Red Sox are playing meaningless games at this point, it seemed odd that he stayed in the game at all after getting hit.

The shortstop said he felt better after the game. But more tests on Saturday will determine his status for the rest of the weekend.

"I feel good right now," he said. "Once I got hit, I know I got hit in a bad place in the head but I feel good."